Attoknet



(No Model.)

= W. E. 'ORANDALL.

' COMBINED DESK AND BLAGKBOARD. N0. 275,598. Patented Apr. 10,1883. I

// g a 5 CM 7 J, g l we L 1-1? o g (fly-z I J J m I 5 I 5 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM E. GRANDALL, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

COMBINED DESK AND BLACKBOARD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 275,598, dated April10, 1883.

Application filed February 9. 1883. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM E. ORANDALL, of the city, county, and Stateof New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement ina CombinedDesk and Blackboard; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full,

clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to theaccompanying sheet of drawings, forming part of this specification.

This invention is in the nature of an improvementin a combined desk andblackboard and the invention consists in a desk provided with a hingedlid, the bottom of the desk constituting a blackboard, and the sides ofthe desk pivoted to a suitable support, whereby the desk by turning onpivots may be placed horizontally or vertically, when inv the verticalposition its bottom exposing a blackboard, all combined and arranged forthe purpose hereinafter described.

In the accompanying sheet of drawings, Figure 1 is a front view of mydesk in a horizontal position. Fig. 2 is a side view of same, partlyinsection. Fig.3 is aperspective view, showing desk in a vertical positionfor blackboard.

Similarlett'ers of referenceindicate like parts in the several figures.

As is well known, the ordinary desk for schools and other purposes arerigidly supported, so that they maintain under all circumstances ahorizontal position for the purpose of being written upon. It is alsowell known that a slate and a blackboardare useful in connection with adesk; but it is believed that heretofore the desk and the blackboard orslate have been separate.

The purpose, therefore, of this invention is v to combine with a desk ofordinary size and chalk or pencil.

form a blackboard or slate which will be always ready for use and easilyplaced in a position most convenient for such use.

To that end I construct my desk of suitable size and material, with theordinary hinged lid, A, covering a hollowinterior, a, to receive books,papers, &c. The under side or bottom of the desk is composed of a smoothlevel surface covered with a suitable paint and varnish, or a silicatedsurface, forming thereby a blackboard, B, which may be written upon withThe sides b of the desk are pivoted to standards 0 by pivots owiththumbnuts d, and also to the sides of the desk and the standards (Jis pivoted one or more slotted stop-plates, 6, also having thumb-nuts f;also to the standards 0, immediately below the desk, is removably placeda chalk-trough, D, and a brace-bar, E. This brace-bar and chalktroughare held in place by screws and screw-v heads g. The standards 0 mayhave fixed to their lower ends suitable legs, It.

Now, when my desk is constructed substantially' as hereinbeforedescribed it is held in its horizontal position and to the standards 0by its pivots c and the thumb-nuts d of the pivots and the thumb-nut fotthe slotted stop 0, for when these nuts are tightly screwed up pivotsuntil the bottom of the desk or the blackboard B assumes a verticalposition, as shown in Fig.3, in which position it is held by simplyscrewing up the, thumb-nutsf ot' the slotted stop-bar e, and in whichposition it can be employed as an ordinary blackboard or slate. Thechalk or pencils to be used in connection with this blackboard may bekept in the chalk-trough 1) when not in use. The blackboard in this waymade may be covered with afigure of any desired problem or sketch, andwhen the desk is again placed in its horizontal position for use as suchthe figure or sketch will be in position tobe preserved from accidentalblurring .or rubbing out. It may therefore remain for any length of timeundisturbed and always ready for reference.

As will be readily seen, the adjustable features of my desk enable it tobe put in a posion so that it will occupy but very little space in aroom, for when the desk is turned from its horizontal to its verticalposition it can be placed closely against the walls of a room, orseveral rows of desks in such position can be placed closely againsteach other and occupy but little more room than the depth of the deskitself.

Another advantage to be found in the construction of my desk is that byreason of the thumb-nuts and the screw-heads git is removably attachedto the uprights C, so that when these thumb-nuts and screw-heads areremoved or unscrewed the desk is instantly separated from the uprightsG, and the uprights from each other and from the cross-bar andchalk-trough. These several parts can then be placed closely together,and therefore occupying but little more room than would a single part.This knockdown feature, as it is termed, is of great value when thedesks are to be shipped in quantities, since a considerable saving offreight is efi'ectedin the reduction of the bulk of the desk and itsparts.

The lid of the desk may be provided with a hook or lock, as desired, tokeep it closed 20 when the position of the desk is reversed.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

The uprights (J, braced transversely, and pro- 2 5 vided with achalk-trough, D, combined with the desk having the lid A, interior a,blackboard bottom B,pivots c,thumb-nuts d, slotted braces c, andthumh-nutsf, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

WM. E. GRANDALL.

Witnesses:

G. M. PLYMPTON, JNO. X. 131mm.

